Feather-feeding apparatus



NEVER Sept. 7 1926.

FEATHER FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed May 15. 1922 2 Sheets-Shae- 1 OOOOOOO l 1 n u w. r I u 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. WEVER FEATHER FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed May 15. 1922 'Sept. 7 1926.

3:: 2- 2:: 2.30 2.2.0 I :53 Boo Patented Sept. 7, 1926. I

. UNITED STATE-S P ENT OFFICE.

FRITZ WEVER, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY; HEIVRI MARMIGNAT ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID FRITZ WEVER, DECEASED.

FEATHER-FEEDING APPARATUS.

Original application filed m 15, 1922, Serial. No. 561,216, and in Germany l'une so, 1921. mvmed'and this applieation'filed June 24, 1924. Serial No. 722,188.

This is a division of my co-pending application filed May 15th, 1922, Serial No. 561,216, for improvements in making fur or plumage like'materi-al.

This invention relates to the art of making fur or plumage like material, and in particular such material as is made by securing feathers to supporting layers of sheet material, such as cloth. or other tex- -tile s. Such material is adapted for use for cloaks, overeoats and garments of other descriptions, for covers and, in general, and

for all of the uses to which furs are applied, and it may be applied as an interior lining or an exterior covering.

- The invention is designed to furnish means whereby the feathers or similar material are secured in a uniform and even layer to a layer of supporting material, prefera ly textile material, and in such a way that the operation of securing the feathers may be done expeditiously and with accuracy.

With these objects in view, my invention comprises means for advancing feathers in successive quantities to a sewing or other securing mechanism and at the .same time feeding a band or strip of textile or other sheet material to the said. securing means, the parts being so arranged that the feathers are spread in a flat, even and uniform layer onto the band or strip in successive quantities at a rate of speed conforming to the speed of the sewing or other attaching mechanism. To facilitate and aid this action, I also provide means for loosening the feathers and preventing their-agglomeration or tendency to stick together in lumps, such means being arranged at a point hehind the conduit through which the feathreciprocation in addition to their rotary ers are passed to the attaching mechanism. My invention is designed more particularly for handling short, light feathers which require a loosening or segregating action as they are fed forward and for-this purpose it comprises details of construction and arrangement and such other features as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an apparatus illustrating an embodiment of my invention. In this drawing Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the same;

Fig. 2 a plan view thereof;

Figs. 1", 1 and 1 are enlarged detail views in side elevation, vertical transverse section and plan, respectively, of a presser foot forming part of my apparatus;

Fig. 3 is anotherdetail view, on an enlarged scale and in vertical section, of another part of my apparatus; and

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the same, on

' the same scale.

device comprises a series of ribs 1 arranged on the forward part of the interior of the hopper, and a'roller 2.provided with picker needles 2*, a roller 3 provided with stripping forks 3 being arranged behind and below the ribs 1 as to engage or straddle the p cker needles 2 as they pass thesaid stripping fork roller, and that said forks will ustclear the lower edges of the ribs 1". -As shown, the ribs 1 have av curved contour corresponding to the path of the ends. of the picker needles 2. a The picker needle 2 and the stripping fork roller 3 are caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, that is to say, so that, as the picker needles "2 move' downward and outward, the stripping forks which straddle these needles move inward and upward and past the lower corners of the ribs 1", thus stripping the feathers in contact with the picker needles 2 from them and past the ribs 1*. The picker needles 2 may have a radial movement, as described in my German Patent No. 330,444, issued December 14, 1920.

Thefeathers are drawn in successive allotments from the stripping. forks 3 through the duct-4 4 by the suction pump 5.

Above the suction pump 5 is arranged a drum 49, into which the feathers are blown by the suction pump 5 thh'ough the pipe having an orifice 51 of flat cross section and arranged tangentially to the cylindrical walls of the drum, as seen in Fig. 1. By this arrangement a circular air current having centrifugal action and which entrains the feathers is generated. The arrow -52 indicates the direction of this air current and of the stream of feathers borne by 1t. As

theair current thus circulating in the drum is gradually retarded in speed it is forced toward. the center of the drum by the air of greater speed continuously entering at the orifice 51, and leaves the drum by the central outlet 53, from which point it, together with the surplus of feathers carr1ed by 1t, is returned to the hopper 1 by waste pipe 54, Figs. 1 and 2. As seen from the drawing, the axis of the drum 49 is horizontal. The suction pump 5, the drum 49 and the corelated parts constitute the loosenlng mechanism. At the upper forward portion the cylindrical walls of the drum 49 are cut and slotted at 56 so as to form a seriesv of tongues 61 which are bent away outward, whereby an outlet opening 56 is formed at this part of the drum, as best seen n Figs.

1 and 3. Through this outlet 56 the drum communicates with the casing 56", constituting a conduit to the mouth-piece or nozzle 59, and within which is journaled a picker ncedle shaft 57, adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow a, from whose sur-- face extends a number of radio picker needles 58. The picker needles are arranged to travel in the slots 56 between the tongues 61. According as the tongues, which are adjustably arranged or hinged (see Figs. 3 and 3 are brought nearer to or removed farther from the shaft 57, the outlet 56 is enlarged or contracted and the rotating picker needles 58 are caused to penetrate to a greater or less extent into the feather stream circulating past the orifice and thus a layer of greater or less thickness will be fed forward into the mouthpiece and thence to the band or ribbon to which the feathers are to be secured. As shown in Fig. 1, in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 3, the rotary needle shaft 57 is hollow and formed with perforations 64 between'the needles 58. It is mounted on and encircles the stationa hollow axle 62,-said axle being formed w1th a longitudinal slot 63 communicating with its hollow interior and arranged on the side of said axle facing the mouthpiece 59. The interior of the axle 62' communicates with an air compressing pump 622 by air pipe 623.

In operation, as the needle shaft 57 revolveson the hollow axle 62, the perforations 64 of the former aresuccessively brought in front of the slot 63, whereby the compressed air from the, pump is caused to escape, thereby blowing the feathers from the picker needles 58 into the nozzle 59 and thence to the sewing apparatus, which secures them to the ribbon or support which is concurrently fed thereto. 1

The picker needle shaft 57 actuated from: the shaft 577 of the sewing mechani sm through" the worm and worm gear '0 and d, keyed to the shaft 125, on which shaft is keyed the pinion e which meshes with the crown gear f keyed to the shaft 57. In order to direct the stream of feathers in the form of a flat layer on to the band or ribbon.15, passing from the reel 15, and with it, under the presser foot 13 and needle bar 14, I form as a part of the presser foot 13 (see Figures 1 and 1*) an inclined deflecting lip or plate 133 arranged in advance of the orifice of the mouth piece 59. This deflecting plate or lip cooperating'with the orifice of the mouth piece 59, in effect, forms a downwardly tapering nozzle which is marked in the drawing as 591. The resser formed with passages 13 to permit the free passage and escape of the compressed air reventing the 1 t e feathers in lumps and insuring their attachment to the"? from the pump 622, thereb balling up or clustering 0 band or ribbon in a thin, even layer.

What I claim and desire to secureby Let Vance of said outlet, in combination with rotary picker needles arranged in advance of and to pass between the tongues, attaching mechanism, and means for advancing the material from the picker needles to the attaching mechanism.

2. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a drum and means for blowing feathers or similar material tangentially into the drum, said drum being provided with an outlet and adjustable'tongues in advance of the outlet, in combination with attaching mechanism for the feathers or similar material, a hollow stationary axle formed with an opening facing the attaching mechanism,

means for forcing air into said hollowaxle,

a hollow rotary and perforated shaft encircling said axle and provided with picker needles extending therefrom and arranged to pass between and beyond the tongues.

3. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a drum, means'for blowing feathers into the drum in a direction tangential to its cylindrical sides, said drum being provided with an outlet on its cylindrical sides and with a central outlet and a waste pipe leading therefrom, in combination with attaching means for the feathers, and means for advancing the feathers from the first named outlet to the attaching means.

4. In an apparatus of the character-set forth, a holder for feathers or similar mate'- rial and means for withdrawing the material from the holder in successive ortions, a suction pump arranged to draw t e mate- 80 foot 13, as seen best in Figs. 1 an 1, is

rial from said withdrawing means,in combination with a drum provided with an outlet opening on its cylindrical sides,means for attaching the material to a support, means for advancing the material from the outlet to the attaching means, a pip-e connecting the interior of the suction pump with the interior of the drum and arranged tangentially with respect to said drum, said drum being provided with a central outlet, and a waste pipe connecting said outlet with the holder for the material.

5. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a drum formed-with an unobstructed interior and provided with a flat and narrow inlet-opening, and an outlet, both on its cylindrical sides, in combination with means for blowing feathers through said inlet opening, means for attaching the feathers to a supporting layer, and means for advancing the feathers from the outlet to the attaching means.

6. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a holder for feathers or similar material, and means for withdrawing the material from the holder in successive portions, a suction-pump arranged to draw material from said withdrawing 'means, in .combina-' tion with a drum having an unobstructed interior and provided with a flat mlet opening and an outlet-opening, both on its cylinudrical sides, a pipeleading from the interior of the suction-pump to the flat inlet and arranged tangentially with respect to said drum, said. drum being also provided with a central axial outlet, a waste pi e connecting said outlet with the holder or the material, means for attaching feathers to a supporting layer, and means for advancing feathers from the outlet to the attaching means.

7. In an apparatus of the character set forth,a drum and means for feeding feathers or similar material into the drum tangentially to its cylindrical sides, said drum being provided with an outlet on said cylindrical sides and with hinged tongues adjustable in position to vary the width of the exit passage for the material, in combination with rotary picker-needles arranged in advance of the tongues and so asto pass between the same, attaching mechanism in ad vance of the picker needles, and means for advancing the material from the picker needles to the attaching mechanism.

8. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a drum and means for causing feathers or similar material to circulate within the drum, a passage for the material in the cylindrical walls of said drum, and means for varying the size of said passage, in combination with rotary picker needles arranged in advance of said passage, an attachlng mechanism-for the material in advance of the picker needles, a conduit leading from the picker needles to the attaching mechanism, and means for blowing the material from the picker needles throughthe conduit to the attaching mechanism. p

9. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a series of rotary picker needles, and means for feeding feathers or similar material to said picker needles, a sewing mechanism for securing the material to a band or other support and comprising apresser foot, in combination'with means for blowing the material from the picker needles, and a conduit leading from the-'pickerneedles to the sewing mechanlsm, and a downwardly 1nclined lip orplate arranged adjacent to, but without the orifice of the conduit to direct the material below the presser foot and forming a downwardly tapering nozzle for the conduit.

10. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a series of rotary picker needles,

means for feeding feathers or similar mate- I rial to said picker needles, a sewing mechanism for securing the'material to a band or support and comprising a presser foot, in comblnatlon with means for blowing the material from the picker needles, and a conduit leading from thef'picker needles to the sewing mechanism, said presser foot, being formed with. an inclined lip or plate in advance of the orifice of the conduit and co.- operating therewith to direct the material below the presser foot and on to the band or support.

11.- In feather feeding apparatus, a hollow axle formed with an opening in its side and means for forcing air into said hollow axle, in combination with a'hollow rotary sleeve encircling the shaft, said sleeve being provided with picker needles extending outwardv therefrom and with perforations between the picker needles.

12. In feather feeding apparatus, a drum provided with an outlet in its sides, a series of tongues arranged in front of said outlet, and a casing-formed with a conduit for passing the feathers, in combination with a hollow stationary axle having a side opening arranged within said casing in advance of the tongues, means for forcing air into the hollow axle, and a rotary sleeve encircling the hollow axle, said sleeve being provided with picker needles extending ing therefrom in axially parallel rows and.

the picker needles, and a conduit arranged to extend from the picker needles toward a point below the presser foot.

14. In feather feeding apparatus, a hollow stationary axle having a side opening, a force pump and a pipe connecting the pump with the hollow axle, in combination with a rotary sleeve encircling the hollow axle, said sleeve being provided with picker needles and perforations between the picker needles, and means for advancing feathers to the path of said picker needles.

15. In feather feeding apparatus, a hollow stationary axle provided with a slot in its side, a rotary sleeve encircling the axle and provided with picker needles extend-- with rows of perforations between the picker needles, in combination with means for forc ing air into the hollow axle.

16. A drum, means for causing feathers or similar material to circulate peripherally within said drum, in combination with a casing adjoining said drum and formed with a conduit, a hollow stationary axle provided with an opening in its sides and facing the conduit,a rotary sleeve encircling the axle provided with picker needles extending therefrom and with perforations between the picker needles, the drum being provided with a assage communicating with thecasing an the picker-needles being arranged a to pass and enter said passage, attaching mechanism for the feathers in advance of the conduit, and means for forcing air into the hollow axle.

17. A conduit for feathers and similar matcrial, and means for blowing the material through the conduit, in combination with a sewing mechanism arranged in advance of the conduit, said sewing mechanism comprising a presser-foot formed with vent passages to permit the escape of the compressed air from the conduit, and a deflecting wall arranged adjacent the conduit and cooperating wit the orifice of the conduit to direct the material below the pressure foot.-

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

FRITZ WEVER. 

